The Most Powerful Natural Antioxidant Discovered to Date - Hydroxytyrosol

Do you know which antioxidant is the most powerful? Vitamin C? Beta-carotene? Green tea? No, the world's most powerful antioxidant is something you've probably never heard of; it's a little polyphenol called hydroxytyrosol.

Hydroxytyrosol is the superstar of antioxidants - the most powerful discovered to date! It has an ORAC value (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity - its ability to absorb cell-damaging free radicals) of 68,576 - which is considered to be 15 times higher than green tea and 3 times higher than CoQ10.

It is not well-known yet because its discovery, and extensive studies of its properties, are so recent. Yet hydroxytyrosol is already being recognized by scientists for its powerful anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antioxidant and cardioprotective properties.

What's So Special About Hydroxytyrosol?

Hydroxytyrosol is primarily found in the olive – its fruit, leaves and pulp. It was first discovered and extracted from the wastewater that resulted when green olives were rinsed in the process of making olive oil.

For decades olive oil has been known for its many healthy properties. It has long been noted that Mediterranean countries have lower rates of cardiovascular disease and cancer than other Western countries. And since the most characteristic element of the Mediterranean diet is olive oil, researchers began studying it, looking for the compound that was responsible for the anti-inflammatory and cholesterol-lowering effects.

Traditionally, the benefits of olive oil have been ascribed to its oleic acid content. However, other foods like pork and chicken are also rich in oleic acid but do not provide the same cardiovascular protection as olive oil. So scientists began to search for other properties of olive oil that might be responsible for its health-promoting effects.

That's when they found hydroxytyrosol - the polyphenol thought to be responsible for olive oil's anti-inflammatory effects. Its ability to absorb free radicals and protect cells and mitochondria from damage is quite impressive.

Additional research shows that hydroxytyrosol holds great promise for a wide variety of potential health benefits.

Neuroprotection

A two-part German study in 2007 investigating the effect of hydroxytyrosol on mitochondrial membranes in the brains of mice concluded, “...the ex vivo data provide the first evidence of neuroprotective effects of oral hydroxytyrosol intake.”(7)

In 2010, the same group of researchers conducted a study to determine whether hydroxytyrosol reduces the risk of age-dependent neurodegeneration and cognitive decline. They concluded, “The results we obtained mainly confirm our previous observation of promising cytoprotection of brain cells...”(8)

Breast Tissue Health

Because previous studies had related olive oil ingestion to a low incidence of breast cancer, researchers in Spain tested the effect of hydroxytyrosol on human breast cell lines.

They found that “...hydroxytyrosol could contribute to a lower incidence of breast cancer in populations that consume virgin olive oil due to its antioxidant activity and its protection against oxidative DNA damage in mammary cells.”(9)

Diabetic Neuropathy

In a study published last month (May 2012) using rats, Italian researchers investigated hydroxytyrosol as a potential new strategy for counteracting the progression of peripheral diabetic neuropathy.

They concluded, “The present study provides evidence of the therapeutic potential of the natural substance hydroxytyrosol in the early stage of diabetic neuropathy.”(10)

Need to Know Information

Purity and Potency: The hydroxytyrosol in ProHealth's Hydroxytyrosol Extreme is extracted from organic olive leaves and is the first pure hydroxytyrosol sold in the U.S. It contains a minimum of 25% hydroxytyrosol, which means you get 25 mg of pure hydroxytyrosol per 100 mg capsule.

Safety: Hydroxytyrosol has an excellent safety profile. No adverse effects have been demonstrated even at very high doses. The FDA has granted hydroxytyrosol GRAS (generally recognized as safe) status.

Dosage: The suggested dosage as a dietary supplement is one 100 mg capsule daily, which provides 25 mg of pure hydroxytyrosol, or as otherwise recommended by your health care professional.

Summary

Hydroxytyrosol is the most powerful natural antioxidant currently known. Well-documented studies confirm its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antioxidant and cardioprotective health benefits. Although still relatively new to most people, hydroxytyrosol promises to soon become a staple in natural health care.

* Supplement research reporter Karen Lee Richards is Lead Expert specializing in Fibromyalgia and ME/CFS for HealthCentral’s chronic pain site (www.HealthCentral.com/Chronic-Pain)

Note: This information has not been reviewed by the FDA. It is for general information purposes; is not intended to prevent, diagnose, treat or cure any illness, condition or disease; and should not replace the personal attention of a qualified healthcare professional. It is very important that you make no change in your healthcare plan or health support regimen without researching and discussing it in collaboration with your professional healthcare team.

Please Discuss This Article:

Mitochondria

Posted by: IanHJun 22, 2012

HT possibly induces mitochondrial biogenesis particularly in neurons and glia. Making it a useful adjunct for treatment of neurological diseases associated with mitochondrial dysfunction, namely P.D. and M.E.

I'd like to thank you for mentioning the sources of this new antioxidant. Your analyses are generally very tight, except in a discussion of who should not be taking this. People allergic to olives, like myself, are likely to have issues with Hydroxytyrosol.

As you move forward with your indepth analyses of new supplements, a lot of us allergic folks would appreciate the addition of sensitivity studies in your comprehensive overviews. I learned the hard way that Astaxanthin is an absolute no-no for me.

Although I am not arguing against the value of olive oil consumption overall, I do need to point out that to get the full benefit of the promoted supplement Hydroxytyrosol, sold here, one would need to consume an inordinate amount of it.

Specifically, the study referenced for this article - Hydroxytyrosol-Rich Olive Mill Wastewater Extract Protects Brain Cells in Vitro and ex Vivo - states very clearly that the administered amount was 100 mg per kilogram of body weight. If you weigh 70 kg, you need to take 7000 mg/day. One capsule sold here provides 25 mg. You really think it'll make any difference in the touted anti-oxidant protection of the brain???

In reply to Annaviva's post: Research to date includes in vitro, animal, and human trials. The source you cite provides evidence that hydroxytyrosol has the potential to enhance resistance to oxidative stress in the brains of mice. The dose used in the study was 100 mg of hydroxytyrosol per kg of body weight for 12 days. The study does not appear to conclude this is the dose necessary to support a benefit in mice, or that application of this dose-to-body-weight ratio might be proper or necessary as a daily regimen to enhance resistance to oxidative stress over time in humans.

However, for example, a human trial of hydroxytyrosol's ability to enhance resistance to oxidative stress relating to cardiovascular health found (reference 6, "Effects of hydroxytyrosol-enriched sunflower oil consumption on CVD risk factors") that just 45-50 mg of hydroxytyrosol per day supported significant improvements in several key markers of antioxidant status in the plasma of healthy subjects.